The figure marks the, “highest total since 297 funds launched in 1Q13,” Hedge Fund Research reported. In the first quarter of 2014 hedge fund liquidations declined from the previous quarter, dropping to 272 from 296.

“New fund launches were spread across all strategies, with the highest number of new funds in Equity Hedge and the greatest quarter-over-quarter growth in Event Driven strategies, with both driven by investor interest in the powerful wave of investor interest in Fundamental Value, Special Situations and Shareholder Activist strategies,” HFR noted. Furthermore, Equity Hedge saw 116 launches for the first quarter of the year, expanding on its growth in 2013 that saw it with the highest number of launches among strategies for the year.